E6g 

INDIFFERENCE OF 
JEREMY 

A PLAY IN ONE ACT 
By BEULAH KING 




Price 25 Cents 



PUBLISHED BY 



ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 



FRANKLIN, OHIO 

Also 

DENVER, COLORADO 
944 So. Logan 



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By Lee Owen Snook. Story of a crabbed, wealthy 
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unexpected romance develops. 4 males, 4 females, 
and others, either high school or adults. Plays about 
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The Little Stranger 



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Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



The Indifference of Jeremy 

A Play in One Act 



By BEULAH KING 

Gloucester, Mass. 



Price 25 Cents 



Copyright, 1021, by Eldridge Entertainment House 



DEC I9i9?( 

PUBLISHED BY 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

FRANKLIN, OHIO 

ALSO 

DENVER, COLORADO 

944 So. Logan 






, CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Judith Leviston Emily Leviston 

Jeremy Leviston 
Patricia Manners Butler Maid 



ICI.D 594 ti 5 



'VvO 



SCENE 

.'/ Ikiiifj room in the country home of the Lei'istons. In 
the left icall center a wide doorzcay hung zvith fortieres, lead- 
ing into the front hall. In the right zcall center a single door 
leading into the library. .If the rear a large firef^lace zvitli a 
smouldering fire. ' The room is furnished in a zvay rt'/nV/i 
betokois good taste. 

At the rise of the curtain .hidith Lez'iston, a z^'omau of 
fifty. IS seated before the fire knitting. Beside her sits her 
sister Emily, two years her junior, also knitting. 0)i a stool 
is Patricia Manners, a girl of twenty-tz^'o. She is working at 
some embroidery, half-heartedly. The first thing one notices 
about Patricia is her short, bushy hair. It has been recently 
cut and she is conscious of it. 

It is late afternoon of a zcinter's day. .1 snozcstorm is 
raging and the zcind is heard frequently throughout the scene. 



The Indifference of Jeremy 



Judith — It must be the effects of the war. There never was 
a Leviston like him, never ! 

Eiiiily (zvho has other ideas) — But Jeremy is not the only 
Leviston who has fought in wars and won a medal for bravery. 

Pat (zvith a sigli) — Has he been sitting in the lil)rary all the 
morning? 

Emily — All the morning — and smoking cigarettes! 

Pa/— It's dreadful. 

Judith — Twenty-eight years old and nothing to interest him. 

Emily (slyly) — Vou don't think he's in love? 

Pat '{feigning an indifference she docs not feel) — With whom? 

Emily (slyly) — Oh, 1 don't know — some girl— perhaps some 
girl he met in France. 

Pat — Then why didn't he marry her and bring her home? 

Emily — Too shy to ask her. 

(Patricia laughs scornfully.) 

Emily — My dear, your great grandfather would never have 
married your great grandmother if she hadn't proposed to him. 
He loved her, and she knew it, and she was a woman of spirit. 

Pat — Poor Jeremy ! 

J.udith — Things can't go on this way. Something's got to be 
done or I shall go mad. 

Emily — I'm afraid coaxing jias failed. 

Judith — I should think when he saw how it worries us he 
would do differently, but he takes no notice. It is as if we did 
not exist. (Pat puts dozvn her work and goes to the mindoi^.) 

Emily — Oh, yes, we exist for him, Judith dear. We are like 
two flies that frequently annoy him, and I know he'd like to 
swat us. 

Judith — But if we didn't keep at him he wouldn't eat at all. 

Pat (fiercely) — Let him starve then. He makes me tired. 

Judith — ■Nly dear, such a speech is very unladylike and most 
unbecoming. 

(Emily regards her zvith a smile.) 

Emily — I'm not so sure but Pat's idea is a good one. .\t least 
I think we might try other methods. I've had something in mind 
for a week now. 

Pat — Concerning that possil)le girl in France? 

E)nil^! (zvho has forgotten the girl's existence) — ^Girl \vi 
France? Oh — dear me, no! (There is a crash, and sound of 
falling glass.) 

5 



6 THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 

Judith (jumping to her feet) — Ah, this wind, this dreadful 
wind! It is the dining-room windows! I expected as much! {She 
goes off d. I.) 

Pat {running to Emily and catching hold of Iter) — Come,' 
Aunt Emily, let's see what it looks like to have a snowbank in 
the dining-room. {She pulls her to d. I.) Perhaps this unusual 
sight will arouse even Jeremy! {They go off d. I.) 

{Jeremy enters d. r. He is a tall, fine-looknig fellow of, 
twenty-eight. He strolls about the room listlessly, and finally' 
bids up before the fireplace and flings himself onto the lozc chair, 
his legs extended before him.) 

{Lettie, the maid, enters d. I.) 

Lettie {in her most pleasing manner) — Will you have a little 
lunch, sir? 

Jeremy — No, Lettie, thank you. Nothing ! 

Lettie {in zvheedling tones) — Little cakes, sir, all iced, and 
with nut filling. 

Jeremy — Xothing, Lettie. 

{She approaches him almost as a suppliant.) 

Lettie — Beau-ti-ful little cakes, sir, really gems of little cakes. 

Jeremy — I'm sorry, Lettie. 

{She starts off; at d. I. she turns back and says zvith a wail) — 
French pastry, sir, made especially for you. 

Jeremy — Nothing, Lettie. 

Lettie (zvith a sob i)i her voice) — Flaky, marvelous little tarts, 
sir, filled with creme de f raise! 

Jeremy — Nothing, Lettie. 

(Lettie shakes her head sadly a)id goes off d. I. On the 
threshold she meets Emily and Judith entering. She has a short 
pantomime zvith them, zvhich shozvs she has once again failed to 
tempt this dreadful boy. She goes off', and Emily and Judith come 
up to Jeremy.) 

Judith (zvith a lighthcartedness she does not feel) — There, he 
isn't going to eat those little cakes because he wants a big appe- 
tite for dinner. I know. (To Emily) And he wants to surprise 
us, the dear boy ! 

Jeremy (rising slowly) — To be perfectly frank with you, my 
dear aunts, I wouldn't mind if I never partook of another dinner. 
(He comes down stage.) 

Judith — He smokes too many cigarettes! Of course he hasn't 
any appetite. 

Emily (coming dozvn stage) — Doesn't anything appeal to you, 
Jeremy ? 

Judith (following her) — Steak and mushrooms? 

Emily — Liver and bacon ? 

Judith — Scallops with Devonshire sauce? 

Emily — Piccadilly pudding with zinne sauce? 

Judith (duly horrified) — Emily! 

Emily (zvith a smile) — Well, you see, Judith, I might as well 



THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 7 

have suggested that as anything. (They go back to the fire f lace, 
and Jeremy stands staring into space.) 

{Enter Standish, the butler, d. I.) 

Standish (to Jeremy) — Shall I replenish the fire, sir? 

Jeremy — If you like. Perhaps my aunts would like a ifire. 
(Standish stands perplexed.) 

Judith — You may replenish it, Standish. 

(Standish goes to the fireplace, amends the fire.) 

(Jeremy takes a cigarette from his pocket and lights it.) 

Judith (putting a detaining hand on his arm) — Please, Jerry. 

Jeremy (putting the cigarette back in its case) — Very well, 
Aunt Judith. 

Judith — Well, of course, you may smoke if you wish. Do you 
wish to, Jerry? 

Jeremy — It really doesn't matter to me whether I smoke or 
not. 

Judith (near tears) — Do smoke it, Jerry. Please! (He puts 
it in his mouth.) 

Judith (heartbroken) — You do like your cigarettes, don't you, 
Jerry? 

Jeremy — Just a matter of habit, Aunt Judith. 
(At this, Judith casts upon Emily one look of despair and 
flees from the room by d. I. z\.'eepiug.) 

Emily — I had a letter from Colonel Pratt this morning. 

Jeremy — Um — um ! 

Emily — He mentioned you. 

Jeremy — He generally does, doesn't he? 

Emily — He will never forget what you did in France, Jerr\". 

Jeremy — That's a pity. 

(Pause.) 

Emily — Did you go to the office yesterday? 

Jeremy — No. 

Emily — You promised me when I went out that you would go. 

Jeremy — Did I ? 

Emily — I wish, Jeremy, you'd show more interest in the busi- 
ness. Your father would have wished it. I should think for his 
sake you would try. And your mother — it was her ambition 
for you ! 

Jeremy — I'm sorry. 

Emily — Then I wish you'd sliow it. {She goes off d. I.) 

Standish (getting to his feet) — You'll pardon me, sir, if I 
suggest something that might lead to your happiness? 

Jeremy — I'll pardon anything, Standish. 

Standish — You — you should get married, sir, to some nice girl. 
Ah, there's not a girl hereabouts, and all of them fine, too — but 
would have you. (He zmits azvkwardly for some reply, but Jer- 
emy continues to stare into the fire.) 

Standish — You aren't angry, sir? 



8 THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 

Jeremy — No, Standisli, and I thank you for the advice, hut 
really I'm not interested. 

Staiidish (with a zvag of his head) — Ah, sir, I am afraid you 
are in a bad way, sir. {He goes off d. I.) 

(Jeremy z^'alks over to the stool and thicks itp_ Patricias em- 
broidery, regards it solemnly for a moment, then places it back 
OH the stool.) 

(Patricia enters d. I.) 

Pat — Oh, Jerry, you should see the dining-room. A blizzard's 
been raging there ! Lee had all he could do to board up the win- 
dow. 

Jeremy — That so.' (He walks over to the windozv.) 

Pat (mstfully)— Jerry? 

Jeremy — Yes. 

Pat — Look at me. (JIc turns and faces her.) How do you 
like it? 

Jeremy — Like what ? 

Pat — Stupid, look at me — hard ! 

Jeremy (irritably) — 1 am looking at you. 

Paf— Well? 

Jeremy — Oh, your hair's fixed different. 

Pat (zuith a moan) — Fixed different! I've had it cut off! 

Jeremy — Oh, so you have ! 

Pat (bravely) — I had it cut off because I thought you'd like 
it. Do you? 

Jeremy — It's all right. 

Pat Cpersiste'ntly)' — Do you like it? 

Jeremy — Yes, and I liked it before. 

Pat — Isn't there such a word in your vocaljulary as "prefer"? 
Don't you ever prefer anything? 

Jeremy — Yes ; I prefer to be let alone. 

Pat — Well, you won't be in this world. (.She zmlks to the 
zvindow.) I should think you might take a little interest in me, 
if I am only a fourth cousin. It's awfully stupid here, and I 
can't get away (zvistfully). You could be awfully jolly if you'd 
only show a little interest now and then (coming back to the fire). 
Why, we could take walks together, and rides together, and you — 
you could read to me, and we could discuss things. {He looks at 
her solemnly.) But instead of being nice, you are just horrid to 
me. You won't even look at me, and if you do, you're so damned 
indifferent you don't take me in. There ! 

(He comes dozvii the stage and stands z^'itli liis legs apart and 
his hands in his pockets.) 

Pat — When you first came back from France 1 used to spend 
hours dressing in hopes to please you, but you never so much as 
looked twice at me (coniig down to him) ! I was sure you'd have 
lots to tell me about France and the beautiful Parisian ladies and 
the Louvre and the Brittany peasants and the dear little French 
children with wooden shoes. (Pause.) Jeremy? 



THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 9 

Jeremy — Um ? 

Pat — Nothing! I just wanted to know if you were listening. 
And the Germans! I've wondered and wondered about them. 
Why — I've even dreamed about them. .And when I heard you'd 
won a medal for bravery I was wild with pride, but you haven't 
even showed me the medal (she goes back to the fireplace). Your 
indifference is terrible — simply terrible ! "^'ou think because you 
went to war and won a medal that's all that's expected of you, 
but it isn't, and you'd better wake up. (He crosses to left.) 
Wh}', chere are millions of men that would envy you your posi- 
tion in life, but instead of taking things in hand you sit and mope 
before the fire, and Aunt Judith comes in and says, (mimicking) 
"Jerry, dear, what will you have for dinner?" (He gives her a 
beiuildered glance.) And Aunt Emily says, "Please, Jeremy, do 
go out for a nice ride this beautiful morning." (Coming down 
stage.) But no, you just sit there Hke a stuffed bird and pity 
yourself. (Unnoticed by her, he steals off d. I.) I call it dis- 
graceful! (She turns to say samething more and finds he has 
gone.) JEREMY! (in rage.) Well, I annoyed him, anyway, or 
he wouldn't have gone out of the room (ivith doubts). Still, 
perhaps he went out because he had reached the door. I shouldn't 
wonder! Oh dear! (She flings herself on the stool by the fire.) 

(Enter Emily d. r.) 

Pat (running to her) — Oh, Aunt Emily, lie's terrible! He's 
impossible! He didn't even know my hair was cut short! 

Emily — Now, now, dear, don't be disheartened just as I have 
thought of an excellent plan to arouse him ! 

Pat — Nothing will arouse him. 

Emily — I'm not so sure about that (Tlicy cume dou*)! stage.) 
Listen, because you're in the scheme. In fact, you are the lead- 
ing lady. 

Pat — The leading lady? Me? Are you quite sure I am capa- 
1)le of taking the part? 

Emily — There's no one else who could take it. Can you en- 
dure the solitude of the garage for a half hour perched on a pair 
of snowshoes? 

Pat — For heaven's sake, Aunt Emily, liave you gone mad? 

Emily (smiling) — Perhaps you think so now, but wait a while 
— wait a while. 

Pat — Go on. This is exciting. 

Emily — I want you to invite Jeremy for a snowshoe tramp to 
Parkman's Hollow. 

Pa^— What— today ? 

Emily — Um-um. Of course, he'll refuse, then you must tell 
him you'll go alone. (Pat smiles at that.) He won't put up much 
resistance. He might suggest you ask us, and if he does, tell him 
you have already, and that we have given our consent. He'll 
think us a bit mad, but then ! 

Pat (excitedly)— Yes. 



10 THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 

Emily — As soon as you are ready — be sure you let him know 
you've started — go out to the barn and wait. When you see him 
start after you 

Pat — Oh, but Aunt Emily, that's where you make a mistake, 
a grave mistake. He won't start after me. He won't care enough. 

Emily (scz'crcly) — Are you going to do as I say? 

Pat — Y-yes 

Emily — Then don't question. When you see him start out 
after you, come out of the garage and call from the depths of the 
drifts — faint from exhaustion. He won't know but what you've 
been a quarter of a mile and can't make the house. 

Pat — Why, Aunt Emily, what an old schemer you are. How is 
it you never got married? 

Emily (laughing) — I'll let Aunt Judy in on the secret. I'll 
have to, to make it work out a success. You wait liere and I'll 
send Jerry in to you. (She starts to d. I.) 

Pat (running after her) — But suppose he doesn't come to me. 
Suppose he doesn't care if I do perish in the snow. 

Emily — In that case I'll telephone the garage and you can 
come in. (With a smile she goes off d. I.) (Patricia stands still 
a moment, smiling zuistfully, then walks over to the windozv and 
is looking out when Jeremy enters d. I.) 

Pat (turning) — I hope you've forgiven me, Jerry, for what I 
said just now. Come and look out at the storm. (He zvalks oz'er 
to the window leisurely.) 

Pat — You can't see the short for trees. They're completely 
covered. 

Jeremy — Um-um ! 

Pat (as if seized z^'ith a z'cry sudden idea) — Jeremy, wouldn't 
it be wonderful to walk on the tree tops I Right over the crests 
of the young apple trees (clasping her hands). Jerry, let's go 
snow-shoeing. 

Jeremy (coming back to the fireplace) — Xo. 

Pat — I believe I will. 

Jeremy (looking at her quickly) — Better consult your aunts! 

Pat — Oh, I did say something about it to them awhile ago, 
and they said go, if I wished. (Jeremy is genuinely surprised.) 

Jeremy — There's a wicked wind. You're mad to go out in it. 

Pat — I like the wind, and besides, if anything happens to me, 
there's no one to care. 

Jeremy — Don't be sentimental. 

Pat — I'm not. I'm truthful. 

Jeremy — Aunt Emily would have hysterics and a long tit of 
nervous prostration, and bore every one around her with her sor- 
row. Aunt Judith would shut herself up like a clam, and eventu- 
ally be lugged off to an insane asylum. 

Pat — Oh, no, they wouldn't, Jerry. (Turning back to the zcin- 
dozv.) The drifts are wonderful. I could go over to Parkman's 



THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY II 

Hollow; (Laughing suddenly) How foolish! I wouldn't know 
it, of course, because it isn't a hollow bj'^ now 

Jeremy — Parkman's Hollow ? 

Pat — it's only a two-mile hike. Wliat's that on snowshoes? 
Besides, it isn't so terribly cold. It never is when it snows, you 
know. 

Jeremy — No ! 

Pat {coming up to him) — Can I wear your moccasins? Mine 
are punctured. 

Jeremy — Yes, if you are really going. 

Pat — i am. Where can I find them? 

Jeremy — Ask Honnors. (She starts to d. I.) 

Pat — Thank you, Jerry. I want you to know I appreciate 
your kindness if anything happens. 

Jeremy (honing elaborately) — 11 n'y a pas de quoi, made- 
moiselle. (She goes off d. I.) (He goes to the ivindozi.*, looks 
out, giies a low whistle, and starts as if to go after her, then] 
paees the floor- nervously.) 

(Judith, follozved by Emily, enters d. r.) 

Judith (taking the eheiir by the fire) — Pull down the shades, 
Jeremy, and light up. (He pulls the shades and turns the stvitch.) 

Jeremy (under his breath) — Beastly night I 

Emily (seating herself) — If possible, the wind seems wilder. 
The alder on the north corner has lost its biggest branch. (The 
tzw it«omen knit.) 

Judith — If it keeps on the windows will be completely buried. 

Emily — It reminds me of the night Lucy Lane was overcome 
near Parkman's Hollow. (Jeremy gives her a quick look.) 

Jeremy — Of course you know Pat has gone out snow-shoeing? 

Emily — Yes, and I thought it unwise, but Judith said let 
her go. She knows the surrounding country from A to Z. 

Judith — Yes, I'm sure she's familiar with every landmark 
hereabout. 

Jeremy (x^'ith so)ne sarcasm) — Perhaps you aren't aware the 
familiar landmarks are completely covered with snow. ( They pay 
no heed to his remark. He begins to pace the floor in a kind of 
desperation.) 

Judith — Well, I look at it this way. The child's been shut up 
here for three days now, and there's nothing to amuse her 

Jeremy' (with some heat) — There's the piano. 

Judith — And so when she came to me and asked whether she 
could go out, I didn't have the heart to refuse her. No, I wouldn't 
have if a Montana blizzard had been raging. 

Jeremy — One is ! 

Emily — Of course, she's not a delicate girl. 

Judith — No, she is unusually strong. 

.Jeremy — She's young, and very slender. 

Emily — Do you remember the day she tamed the colt? 

Jeremy — A colt and this gale are not comparable. 



12 THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 

Judith — Wasn't she plucky? 

Emily — And persevering. (JVithout the sound of a limb crack- 
ing.) 

Judith (jumping up) — Oh, hear that wind! What was that? 
(Followed by Emily, she runs to the windozv.) 

Emily — The oak branch. 

Judith — Snapped off like a twig! (They stare at each other 
tensely. There is a pause.) 

Emily (zvith a sly z(.'ink) — I was thinking, Jvidith — suppose — 

suppose Patricia (pause again. Jeremy is frozen zoith terror. 

It is cz'ident nozc that he is suffering.) Suppose Patricia should 
be struck by a 

Judith (coming back to the fireplace) — Don't he foolishly 
alarmed, Emily. She won't go where the trees are. (Emily comes 
back to her chair and sits.) 

Jeremy (in desperation) — But Parkman's Hollow is surrounded 
by trees. 

Emily — She won't go to Parkman's Hollow. 

Jeremy — Yes, she will. She said she would. 

Judith — She won't when she gets out and sees how the trees 
are falling. (An unforgiz'ing look from Jeremy.) 

Emily — No, she'll keep to the moors. 

Jeretny — Are you fools? Keep to the moors! She'll be buried 
alive — ^that's what ! — and you are her murderers ! 

(He makes a bolt and runs off at d. I.) 

(Judith stares at Emily, zvho smiles back to her quietly.) 

Emily — Oh, Judy dear, don't you see? The miracle has come. 
For the 'first time in three months he has shown a spark of in- 
terest. 

Judith — What does it mean? Yet we — we mustn't be too 
hopeful. 

Emily — Why not? Doesn't this prove his interest is not dead, 
but only sleeping? 

(Enter Standish, d. r.) 

Staudish — Did you ring, miss? 

Judith — No Standish — that is, I don't think so. (He turns 
to go.) . ^ 

Judith — Standish, have you seen Air. Leviston ? 

Standish — -Just now, madafli. He bolted past me up the stairs. 

Emily (with satisfactio)i) — Ah! 

Judith (to Standish) — You mean he was running? 

Standish — Running, madam? He was on wings. He barely 
touched the stairs, if you'll believe it. 

Emily — Ah ! 
(Enter Lettie, d. I.) 

Lettte .(to Judith) — Your pardon, madam, but Mr. Leviston 
has rushed out in tlie storm with no coat — only his snowshoes ! 
( Hysterically ) .Oh, oh, oh, he is mad! Please madam, send some- 
one after him. 



THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 13 

Emily— Hush, Lettie. (To Judith) We'd better watch from 
the library window in case anything does go wrong. 

Judith — Yes, yes! (She runs off, d. r.) 

Emily {to Lettie)-— It' ^ all right, Lettie. Don't be alarmed! 
Nothing dreadful is going to happen. 

Judith (calliny from the library) — Quick, Emily, he's found 
her. 

Emily {to Staudish) — Get something hot, Standish. (Standish 
goes off d. I.) (Emily runs off d. r., follozved by Lettie.) 

Lettie {from the library) — Oh, ma'am, where is he? Is he 
buried alive? 

Judith — Hush! He has just come in! 

( The front door slams, and a secovtd later Jeremy enters d. I., 
carrying Patricia, whose eyes are closed. Jle f^laces her ui a chair 
and rings for Standish, mea^nzvliile unbuttoning her coat and chaf- 
ing her hands.) 

(Enter Standish d. I., tvith glass.) 

Jeremy (lacking no enthusiasm nozv) — Quick! (He takes the 
glass from Standish and flours it betiveen Pat's lit^s. Standish 
goes off d. I.) (Aunt Judith and Emily appear at d. r. and zMtch. 
Emily smiles at the scene and drazcs Judith azi'ay.) 

Pat (opening her eyes) — Jeremy! (She sits up.) 

Jeremy (in an excited z'oice) — ^'es ! 

Pat — Oh! (Slie looks straight into his eyes, and he turns to 
the fire as if he zvere ashamed of zvhat he had doie.) 

Pat — Thank you. Jeremy. I believe you have saved my life! 

(Pause, but he does not look at her.) 

Pat — Jeremy? 

Jeremy — Yes. 

Pat — Did Aunt Judith ask you to come for me? 

Jeremy — No. 

Pat — bid Aunt Emily? 

Jeremy — N^o. 

Pat — You 'came because you wanted to? 

Jeremy (facing her) — I didn't want to see you die an untimely 
death. You are young, and have a great deal to live for. 

Pat — Perhaps, and perhaps not! Jeremy? 

/^rc»/.v— Yes ? 

Pat — Suppose you had perished; too? 

Jeremy — That wouldn't have mattered in the least. 

Pat — You mean it wouldn't have mattered in tiie least since / 
had already perished? (Pause.) Just wliat did you mean, Jer- 
emy ? 

Jeremy (coming dozen stage) — Because a man saves a girl 
from death does not always mean he cannot live without her. 

Pat (rising) — But you — Jeremy — you have been so strange — 

nothing could arouse you, and so I thought that maybe (she 

comes dozm stage and puts a hand on his arm.) Jeremy, would 



14 THE INDIFFERENCE OF JEREMY 

you have gone out for Aunt Judith in this storm? That is — 
would you have wanted to ? 

Jeremy {moving nncomfortahly) — Certainly! 

Pat — Without your coat? 

Jeremy — Yes. 

Pat {going back to the fircflace and picking up her coat and 
snowshoes) — Thank you. That's all I wanted to know. 

(He does not look at her as she goes out dragging her snow- 
shoes after her. At the door she turns and looks tvistfully back 
at him, then goes off, d. I.) {Jeremy stands, staring straight 
ahead.) 

(Enter Standish, d. r.) 

Standisli — Dinner is served, sir. 

Jeremy — Damn it! I don't want any! (Standish is startled.) 
•Standish — Very well, sir. {He goes off, d. I.) 

(Jeremy paces back and forth, back and forth.) 

{Enter d. I. Emily and Judith.) 

Judith (with determination in her eye) — Jeremy, you are go- 
ing to eat some dinner. {Emily stands back ajid smiles to herself 
at the scene. Jeremy takes a cigarette from his pocket and lights 
it.) And you are going to put that dreadful thing away. (She 
d'ttempts to take it azmy from him, but he puts it behind him 
stubbornly.) Very well, I shall send for a doctor! (She starts 
to d. I., then Emily comes forn'ard.) 

Emily (slyly) — What have you done to Patricia? Tlie child 
refuses to come to dinner. Jeremy, you must do differently. You 
have a bad effect on her, a very bad effect. (Pause. Judith waits.) 

Jeremy — Where is she? 

Emily — Upstairs in the living room — weeping her heart out. 

(He flings his cigarette in the fire and runs off' d. I.) 

Judith — Heavens, Emily, what ails him? 

Emily (going to her sister) — We can't complain of indifference 
now. I call that downright enthusiasm. 

Judith — But what does it mean? 

Emily — Stupid! He loves Pat, of course. 

Judith — He loves Patricia ! 

Emily — Yes, and I've suspected it all along {taking her sister's 
arm). Come, let's go out to dinner. {She leads Judith off' d. I. 
as the curtain falls.) 



YOU WILL BE GLAD TO KNOW OF 

THESE NEW PLAYS 

Training Mary 

By Mary Shaw Page. A bright 1-act play with sim- 
ple stage setting. William, husband of Mary, essays 
to train Mary, especially along the lines of correcting 
carelessness. As is always the case, William gets in 
deep water, but finally wades out. 2 males, 4 fe- 
males, and plays about 45 minutes. Price, 25c. 

The Hired Man's Courtship 

By Alice Cripps. A short comedy-drama in 2 acts. 
Captain Edwards tires of wealth and the city, and 
procures work on Horton's farm, only to find that the 
farmer's daughter is an old sweetheart. Because of 
an intrigue on the part of the captain's cousin, an es- 
trangement takes place, which ends happily when the 
captain finds the source of certain stoiies and re- 
futes them. Aunt Hepsey, Jim and Ezra (colored), 
add comedy to the play. Plays about 45 minutes, 
and is for 3 males and 3 females. Price, 25c. 

Merely Anne Marie 

A comedy in 3 acts by Beulah King. 3 males, 5 fe- 
males. Time, 2y2 hours. The scenes are laid in a 
fashionable boarding house, and the characters are all 
distinct types and worth while. A successful play- 
wright, desiring to escape notoriety, seeks seclusion 
at Mrs. Teague's and becomes the hero of Anne Ma- 
rie, the dining room maid. The dialogue is_ bright, 
the situations clever and the story ends happily. 3Sc. 

A Bit of Scandal 

By Fannie Barnett Linsky. Comedy-drama in 2 acts. 
Francina, who is to play at the recital, composes her 
own number. On the evening of the recital, Mary 
Sherman, who precedes her on the program, plays 
Francina's compositions, which she has stolen. The 
reasons for the theft all come out later and of course, 
all ends well. Nine characters. Plays about 1 hour. 
Price, 3Sc. 

Miss Burnett Puts One Over 

By Ethelyn Sexton. A rollicking 1-act girls' play for 
6 characters. Bar'jara's mother has a friend, Ann Bur- 
nett, who is to visit the girls at college, with the in- 
tention of giving a generous sum to the school. The 
girls, wishing o gain her good will, practice their 
"manners." Miss Burnett, however, appears in dis- 
guise and has much fun at their expense. All ends 
well and the school gets the money. Plays about 45 
minutes. Easy setting and costumes. Price, 25c. 

Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



5^ 



Money-Making Entertainment Novelties 
for Church, School or Lodge 



Miss Nibbs' Novelty Shop 

By Alta Becker. This is a novel and humorous en- 
tertainment, introducing 'Liza Ann, Miss Nibbs, two 
traveling salesmen, shoppers, mechanical dolls and 
mechancal maid of all work. A good little stunt where 
a short, clean, humorous number is desired. Plays 
about 30 minutes. Price, 25c. 

The Brightville Indoor Chautauqua 

By Bessie Baker and Nellie Hanna. Here is a brand 
new idea for an evening's entertainment. It is in 5 
parts, each part representing a day at Chautauqua. 
Gives wide scope for introduction of large cast and 
many specialties. Complete programs suggested as 
follows: Part 1, Chautauqua Concert Company; Part 
2, Living Pictures; Part 3, Musical Entertainers; 
Part 4, Farmers' Night; Part 5, Coonville Jubilee 
Singers. Price, 35c. 

Sorepaw & Fells Indoor Circus 

By Margaret S. Bridge and Margaret H. Hahn. The 
Grand Annex and Musee, Freaks, Curiosities and 
Monstrosities, never were in it with the marvelous, 
amazing, mystifying array outlined in its pages. Ar- 
tistic, ambling, agile, 'andsome acrobats; cajoling, 
cadaverous, costly, curious, cunning clowns; Hee- 
Shee, the Monkey Girl of Yucatan; all of these and 
many others will be seen in the Big Peerade before 
the show starts, ladies and gentlemen. Keep to the 
right — don't crowd. Price, 25c. 

As Ye Sew 

A "talking doll" missionary play by Dorothy Crich- 
ton. A lot of fun and some wholesome lessons are 
contained in the conversation of the dolls who dis- 
cuss the motives of their donors. Splendid for Young 
People's or Missionary Societies. 10 girls, 1 boy, or 
all girls. Time, 20 minutes. Price, 15c. 



Finding the Key 



A dialog and drill for 10 or 12 girls and boys. Suit- 
able for any religious program, but especially for 
Easter. Time, 20 minutes. Deals with problems of 
youth, recreations, etc.; also with those of Commun- 
ity Life and the present spirit of Unrest. Interspersed 
with suggested songs. Drill very effective. 25c. 



Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



NEW HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS 

ALONG CAME BUD— 

for 4 boys and 2 girls. Bud, quite inno- 
cently causes a lot of trouble, but all ends 
well when Bud comes along. Price 25c. 

CLARENCE DECIDES— 

is for 4 males and 6 females, and is a 
very clever comedy. All kinds of funny 
situations are introduced. Price 35c. 

THE CAPTAIN'S PREDICAMENT— 

a rattling good farce for 3 males and 4 
females. Lots of fun. Price, 35 cents. 

LOST— THE WHOLE CROWD AND 
THE PARROT— 

a farce in which many amusing complica- 
tions arise. Plays whole evening. 8 
males and 5 females. Price, 35 cents. 

POLLY LOU— 

,a new Gladj^s Bridgham farce in which 
there is plenty of action and an interest- 
ing plot. 6 males, 8 females. Price 35c. 

THE VISITING SMITHS— 

a short sketch telling how the Smith's 
Corner Smiths descended on the New 
York Smiths for a visit. Price, 25 cents. 

THE CONVERSION OF PA. 
THE TRIALS OF EZRA— 

two new Agricultural Extension plays. 
Each, 25 cents. 



Eldridge Entertainment House 

Franklin, Ohio, also 944 S. Logan, Denver, Colo. 



n~ 



015 940 104 2 



Plays for Amateurs 

By SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS 



Mr. Tibbals has won a wide reputation as 
the writer of plays for amateurs that have 
dramatic action, bright dialog and clean 
and -wholesome plots. Among the most 
successful of these are 

Somewhere In France; 4 m. 3 f 35c 

Sergeant Jim of the 

U.S. Marines; 7 m. 12 f 35c 

The Little Politician; 7 m. 3 f 35c 

Getting Even With Reggie; 5 m. 8 f . 35c 

At The Village Postoffice; K^^cters 35c 

The Man Haters; 11 f. 4 m.. 35c 

Vinegar's Vaudeville Agency; Number 35c 

The Millionaire Janitor; play for boys 35c 

In Dixie Land; male characters 35c 

Up Caesar's Creek; boys' play 35c 

Christmas Plays 

Christmas at Finnegan's Flat 25c 

Christmas at Golden Gulch 25c 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

FRANKLIN, OHIO, ilso 944 S. Logan, DENVER, COLO. 



